Duke  University  Libraries 


D037886942 


No.  55. 

WILL  YOU  LABOR  FOR  SALVATION? 

BY  REV.  DAVID  SHAVER,  RICHMOND,  VA. 


The  present  life  is  a  scene  of  travail — conflict — weariness. 
Often,  as  we  pass  through  it,  are  we  like  the  Israelites 
wandering  in  the  wildorness,  when  ''the  soul  of  the  people 
urage'd  because  of  the  way."  With  what 
a  fainting  heart  we  see  the  years  wear  slowly  on;  wliile, 
one  after  another,  toils  and  trials  strew  our  path,  "thick 
as  autumnal  leaves,"  and  sharper  than  hedges  of  thorns  ? 
But,  in  the  life -to  come,  ''there  rernaineth  a  rest  to  the 
people  of  G i. ...1;"  an  unbroken  and  enduring  rest,  who^e 
sweet  dawn  oyen*  on  the  soul  at  the  instant  of  release 
from  suffering,  dying  flesh,  but  whose  perfect  consum- 
mation is  reserved  for  the  times  when  Christ,  who  is  our 
lilc,  shall  appear/'  ;:nd  His  disciples  '"shall "  also  appear 
with  Him  in  glory."  It  was  with  his  eye  fixed  on  that 
blissful  scene,  with  his  heart  panting  after  it.  with  his 
feet  pressing  toward  it,  that  the  apostle  Paul  uttered  to 
his  own  generation,  and  through  them  to  us,  the  solemn 
injunction,  i;Let  us  labor,  therefore,  to  enter  into  thctt 
rest."  (Heb  4  ;  11)  May  we  ask  you,  reader,  to  dwell 
with  patient  thoughtfulness  on  the  lessons  which  that 
injunction  conveys  to  as? 


There  is  an  implied  lesson  in  it  It  clearly  proceeds  on 
the  supposition,  that  we  may  effect  an  entrance  into  the 
heavenly  rest.  If  this  be  not  true,  the  injunction  to  seek 
it,  takes  form  as  bitter  and  shameless  mockery,  like  the 
words  of  the  railers  who  wagging  their  heads,  urged 
Christ  to  descend  from  the  cross,  believing  all  the  while 
that  it  was  beyond  His  power  to  come  down.  But  the 
language  of  the  apostle  is  the  language  of  frankness  and 
earnestness.  He  speaks,  because  "the  oity  of  the  bless- 
ed" has  gates  that  "stand  open  day  and  night"  He  speaks, 
because  between  those  gates  and  ourselves  no  barriers  rise 
which  our  feet  may  not  surmount,  if  we  steadily  tread  the 
way  of  truth.  And  this  is  most  precious  doctrine.  Hea- 
thenism taught  men  to  frame  their  guilty  fears  into  the 
horrible  idea  of  a  "Fate,"  which  "had  no  head  and  could 
not  think,"  which  "had  no  heart  and  could  not  feel/'  but 
which  had  an  iron,  resistless  hand  sweeping  a  defenceless 
race  into  an  inevitable  ruin  The  gospel  shines  on  this 
spectre,  and  as  it  melts  away,  we  behold,  instead,  Christ 
the  only  "Fate"  of  man  ;  Christ  who  "came  into  the  world 
to  save  sinners;"  Christ  who  gave  His  flesh  for  the  life  of 
the  world;  Christ,  the  often  rejected,  the  never  reject- 
ing I  Like  nature's  sun  this  Sun  of  righteousness  shines 
for  all.  The  water  of  life  flows  freely  for  whosoever  will 
take  it.  All  may  eat  of  "the  bread  which  cometh  down 
from  heaven ;"  for  that  bread,  as  our  Redeemer  himself 
declares,  "giveth  life  unto  the  world'"  It  stands,  then, 
as  a  truth  which  cannot  be  shaken,  that  every  one  of  us 
may  effect  an  entrance  into  the  heavenly  rest. 

But  will  we?  If  we  would,  we  must  give  earnest  heed 
to  the  lesson  expressed  in  the  apostolic  injunction.  We 
must  remenber  that  to  effect  an  entrance  into  the  heaven- 
ly rest  demands  "labor."     Not  manual  labor;  for  in   this 


ease,  "bodily  exercise  profitetli  nothing.0  But  that  har- 
der labor  of  the  mind  and  of  the  hearty  which  calls  for 
greater  industry  than  any  merely  physical  toil.  There  is 
an  evil  nature  that  must  be  changed.  There  are  evil 
habits  which  must  be  broken  off.  There  are  evil  maxims 
or  rules  of  conduct  which  must  be  renounced.  There  are 
evil  examples  which  must  be  resisted.  These  things  de- 
mand the  strenuous  exercise  of  the  inner  man  unto  godli- 
ness. And  without  this  labor  of  the  mind  and  of  the 
heart  none  enter  into  nthat  rest."  Thus,  it  is  written  : 
"Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord  from  hence- 
forth j  Yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from 
their  labors,  and  their  works  do  follow  them."  As  if  to 
proclaim,  that  none  die  in  the  Lord,  noue  are  blessed  in 
their  death,  except  those  who  have  works  which  may  fol- 
low them  and  labors  from  which  they  may  rest !  He  who 
dreams  of  .saving  his  soul  on  any  easier  term*,  will  bo 
awakened  by  its  loss.  Men  may  slumber  while  the  tide 
drifts  them  toward  the  gulf  of  perdition;  but  the  gull* 
swallows  them  up — and  there  are  no  slumberers  there. 
Wrath  opens,  never  to  close  again,  the  eyes  which  were 
shut,  which  were  willingly  and  wilfully  blind,  to  grate. 
Many  will  see,  when  it  is  too  late  to  profit  by  it,  that  their 
destruction  is  greatly  owing  to  their  not  perceiving  clear- 
ly, and  deeply  feeling,  how  necessary  labor  is,  in  order  to 
an  entrance  into  the  heavenly  rest." 

Suffer,  then,  dear    reader,    from   one    who    loves   your 
souls,  a  few    exhortations  resting  on  this    vital  doctrine. 

I.    Think  it  not  strange  that  "labor"  should  be  necc- 
ifwe  would  effect  an    entrance    into  the    heavenly   rest. 
There  is  nothing  strange  about  it. 

The  same  law  applies  to  the  things  of  the   present   life. 
77/ <  ir  price  is  labor.     On  this  point,  revelation,  which   is 

J,- 


the  only  divine  teacher,  and  experience,  which  is  the  best 
human  teacher,  read  the  same  lesson  to  us.  An  often 
({noted  text  of  Scripture  might,  without  violence  to  the 
original,  have  been  translated  :  "Man  is  born  unto  I 
as  the  sparks  fly  upward."  (Job,  5  )  7.)  This  is  the  pen- 
alty of  sin  ;  "lathe  sweat  of  thy  face  shalt  thou  eat 
bread,  till  thorn  return  unto  the  ground."  (Gen,  3}  19) 
This  is  the  law  of  righteousness:  "Six  days  -shalt  thou 
labor  and  do  all  thy  work."  (Ex.  20  0.)  Whether  we 
regard  God,  therefore,  as  a  Sovereign  avenging  rebellion 
against  Him,  or  as  a  Legislator  prescribing  the  measure 
of  obedience  to  Him,  we  find  equal  evidence,  that,  accord- 
ing to  His  purpose,  man,  as  respects  the  present  life,  is, 
and  must  be,  w  lu borer — in  mind,  in  body,  in  both.  Those 
who  attempt  practically  to  annuL  the  "constitution  of 
nature  ,aud  the  course  of  Providence"  in  this  regard, 
pluck  down  manifold  evils-  on  themselves.  So  the  pro- 
verbs of  divine  revelation  teach  :  "I  went  by  the  field  of 
the  slothful,  and  by  the  vineyard  of  tire  man  void  of  un- 
derstanding, and  lo,  it  was  all  grown  over  with  th< 
and  nettles  had  covered  the  face  thereof,  and  the  stone 
wall  thereof  was  broken  down,  Then  I^aw,  and  consider- 
ed it  well ;  I  looked  upon  it,  and  received  instruction. 
Vet  a  little  sleep,  a  little  slumber,  a  little  folding  of  the 
hands  to  sleep;  so  shall  thy  poverty  come  as  one  that 
traveleth,"  that  is,  eome  swiftl)*  "and  thy  want  as  an 
armed  man."1  that  is,  irresistibly.  (Frov.  24,  3ft~-34.) 
Of  like  sort  is  the  teaching  of  the  proverbs  of  human 
experience:  "Idleness  is  the  key  of  beggary;"  "Sloth  is 
'  the  mother  of  poverty.".  As  the  general  rule,  then,  toil- 
some exertion  is  necessary  in  order  to  secure  whatever 
men  of  the  world  set  their   hearts   on.     Karth    holds   all 


thing?  at  that  rate,  and  yields  them  up  into  our  possession 

and  enjoyment  at  no  lower  cost. 

Now,  why  should  not    this  law  apply    equally  to    the 
things  of  the  life  to    come?     Why  should    sloth  be    the 
mother  of  eternal  riches,  and  idleness  the  key  of  heaven  t 
Why  should  those  who  by  doing  nothing  lose  all  the  bl< 
of  this  mortal  state,  hope  nevertheless,  while    doing 
bing,  to  inherit  all  the  b  of  the    state    immor- 

tal ?     The   expect  urdity    upon    its   very 

Analogy  furbids  it.     The  God  of  nature  is  the  Grod 
of  the  "H  ike   over    the   present 

world  and  the  next.     Is   it   not    reasonable    to   conclude, 
"then,  thai  be    of   one  and   the    same 

mid  be    constituted  on    one  and    the    game 
prim  hat  the  necessity  for    labor,  to   the 

treasures  of  the  one.  should  apply  to  the  I  ofHhe 

other  also  ?  that  in  both,  if  in  either,  (rod  should  suspend  % 
the  thin  .  ■!  uf-on  effort  and  toil  ?     Itis  not  stran 

Hhen  at  our  Saviour  sheul 

in  at  the  strait  gate."     ( Lu.   18j  24  not    strange 

that  one  of  his  disciples   ehoul d  k    oat   y 

own  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling;"      (Phil.  2;,  12 
and  another;  to  make  your   calling    and 

ehction  sure.'  Pet.  1 ;  10.)     Tt  is  not  strange   that 

to   effect  an  entrance  into  the  heavenly  restdemands  lal 

.  it  would  be  stran  "ountably  strange,    if  this 

were  not  the  ease.  Who  could  explain  the  obvious  in- 
consistency, if  tin  nature  gave  nothing  here  to 
inactivity,  and  the  God  of  the  Bible  gave  all  tilings  to  it 
hereafter?  There  is  no  such  inconsistency  in  Jehovah. 
It  is  amazing  that  even  the  most  heedless  of  men    should 


6 

instance  can  be  found,  of  the  power  of  a  warped  vision  to 
wink  great  and  vital  truth  out  of  sight. 

II.  Do  not  refuse  to  seek  an  entrance  into  the  heaven- 
ly rest,  because  "labor"  is  necessary  to  effect  it.  The 
fruit  of  that  labor  would  repay  you  for  its  weariness — if 
this  weariness  were  aggravated  a  thousand-fold — and  if 
that  fruit  were  diminished  a  million-fold.  How  much 
more  certain,  satisfying,  enduring,  are  its  rewards  than 
the  rewards  of  earthly  labor.  Let  us  lay  open  this  thought 
together. 

(1.)  Labor  for  the  things  of  the  present  life  is  uncertain. 

lou  may  prepare  yourself  for  one  of  the  professions. 
Much  money  and  years  of  study  may  be  expended  in  se- 
curing proper  qualification  for  it.  And  that  qualification 
may  be  yours.  Still,  though  you  deserve  success,  you  may 
not  be  able  to  command  it.  Competitors,  perhaps  less 
competent  than  yourself,  may  jostle  you  aside  in  the 
eager  race  after  professional  emolument  or  professional 
distinction ;  and  while  they  float  on  the  full  tide,  you  may 
lie  stranded  and  wreoked  on  the  beach.  "The  race  is  not  to 
the  swift,  nor  the  battle  to  the  strong,  neither  yet  bread 
to  the  wise,  nor  yet  riches  to  men  of  understanding,  nor 
yet  favor  to  men  of  skill ;  but  time  and  chance  happeneth 
to    all."     (Eccl9;  11.) 

You  may  till  the  ground  ;  rising  early,  sitting  up  late ; 
rivalling  the  industry  of  Jacob,  who  said,  "In  tho  day  the 
heat  consumed  me,  and  the  frost  by  night,"  But  though 
you  carry  much  seed  out  into  the  field,  you  may  gather 
little  in.^God  may  call  for  a  drought  upon  the  land,  and 
upon  the  corn,  and  upon  the  wheat,  and  upon  all  that  the 
ground  brings  forth.  Your  harvest  may  bo  smitten  with 
blasting,  and  with  mildew,  and  with  hail.  Tho  toil  of 
tkey^rmer'  .  to  you  eimpi^ba^cL    *Wh$t  7®& 


have  spent  your  strength  for,  and  your  time,  may  "be  as 
the  grass  upon  the  house-tops,  which  withereth  afore  it 
groweth  up,  wherewith  the  mower  filleth  not  his  hand, 
nor  he  that  bindeth  sheaves  his  bosom."  And  if  the 
heavens  grant  rain  and  fruitful  seasons  to  the  husband- 
man, you  may  be  stricken  down  ink)  a  cheerless  grave, 
while  others  gather  the  produce  of  your  fields  into  the  • 
barn,  and  watch  the  rise  and  fall  of  markets,  and  sell 
when  prices  are  at  the  highest,  and  count  over  the  abun- 
dant profit,  won  but  not  enjoyed  by  you  ? 

He  that  earns  wages,  may  earn  them,  only  to  put  them 
into  a  bag  with  holes.  The  gains  of  a  long  life,  adven- 
tured upon  some  speculation  of  fair  but  false  promise,  or 
deposited  for  safe  keeping  in  a  failing  bank,  or  loaned  to 
one  on  the  verge  of  insolvency,  or  eaten  by  the  tongue  of 
fire,  or  swept  with  the  besom  of  merciless  war>  may  perish 
in  a  single  hour,  and  leave  behind  them  nothing  but  vain 
repining  and  hopeless  beggary  to  your  gray  hairs. 

Such  are  the  uncertainties  which  hang  over  earthly 
labor.  But  Jahor  for  the  things  of  the  lif 6  to  come  cannot 
fail  of  success. 

Those  who  perform  this  work  of  the  Lord,  perform  sure 
work — the  only  work  which  must  be  crowned  with  re^ 
ward.  So  felt  the  apostle  Paul,  when  he  exhorted  his 
beloved  brethren  to  be  steadfast,  unmovable,  always  a- 
bounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  forasmuch  as  they 
knew  that  their  labor  was  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord. 

It  is  impossible  that  repentance  and  faith  should  come 
to  nought.  That  they  should  fall  as  water  spilled  upon 
the  ground,  without  procuring  acceptance  with  the  Friend 
of  sinners,  U  impossible,  Has  not  that  merciful  and  faith- 
ful  Saviour  said,  "Him  thai  somsth  u.nto  sie»  I  m\\  in 
qq  ^Iss  $*§i  out  F    <Jao»  6  j  8?)  Ties*  %t$  Hi*  wds  j 


and  has  lie  not  also  said,  ''Heaven   and  earth    shall    pass 

away,  but  my  words  shall  not  pass  away?"  (Matt.  24: 
85.)  Faith  and  repentance,  then,  cannot  fail  of  success; 
but  those  who  exercise  them  shall  be  satisfied  with  favor, 
and  full  with  the  blessing  of  the  Lord. 

Equally  is  this  true  of  Christian  fidelity.  Christian 
_  fidelity  mast  abide  in  Christ's  love.  "The  beloved  of  the 
Lord  shall  dwell  in  safety  by  Him."  (I)eut.  33  ;  1CJ 
Neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities,  nor 
powers,  nor  things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor  height, 
nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  sepa- 
rate Fidelity  from  the  love  of  Cod  Which  is  in  Christ 
Jesus  our  Lord.  "My  sheep/"  said  theTvedeemer,  "hear 
my  voice,  and  I  know  them,  and  they  follow  me;  and  I 
give  untb  them  eternal  life ;  and  the*y  shall  never  perish ; 
neither  shall  any  pluck  them  out  of  my  hand."  (Jno.  10; 
27,  28.) 

Mark  the  contrast  in  this  particular.  You  labor  for  the 
things  of  the  present  life,  in  the  midst  of  great  uncer- 
tainty ;  not  knowing  whether  you  shall  obtain  compen- 
sation for  your  efforts;  running  the  risk  of  closing  a  toil- 
some life  in  want  and  penury.  In  this  you  do  well.  3^ut 
what  show  of  reason  can  you  present  for  rci using  to  labor 
that  you  may  effect  an  entrance  into  the  heavenly  rest, 
assured  as  you  are  by  the  entire  word  of  God,  that  your 
efforts  are  attended  by  an  absolute  certainty  of  success, — 
that  there  is  not  anything  which  can  by  possibility  sub- 
ject you  to  final  disappointment  !  Are  you  willing  to  be 
workers  where  you  may  gain  nothing,  and  not  where  you 
must  gain  all  things  ?  Ho  not  pass  this  consideration  by. 
Our  Saviour  himself  appeals  to  the  uncertainty  of  earthly 
things  and  the  certainty  of  heavenly  things,  and  grounds 
o¥e  of  Ilia  own  solemn  counsels  on  it-. 


yourselves  treasures  upon  earth,  where  moth  and  rust 
doth  corrupt,  and  where  this  .  through  and 

But  lay  up  for  yourselves  treasures  in  heaven,  where  neith- 
er moth  nor  rust  doth  corrupt,  and  where  thieves  do  not 
break  through,  nor  steal/*  (Matt.  6;  19,  20/)"  That  is, 
prefer  the  sure  labor  to  the  unsure.  Give  not  your  su- 
preme affection  and  most  strenuous  effort  to  .the  things 
which  may  elude  your  grasp  :  there  are  things  which  can- 
not deceive  you.  give  them  rather  t  i  these.  Oh.  if  you 
will  not  hear  us.  hear  the  Lord  Je 

The  things  of  the  present  life  lor  which  we  labor, 
if  we  obtain  them,  are >**m$ati$fying.  It  is  not  in  their 
power  to  fill  the  cap  quiet  th<  .    heart   of 

mm".     We  have  n  monies  to  this  effect. 

Take  that  of  the  Caliph  Abdalrahman.     An   authentic 
memorial,  found  in  his  close:  ♦]   have 

now  r<  i  ove  fifty  years  in  victory  or  ;  eloVted 

by  my  subjects,  dreaded  by  my  enemies,  and  respected 
by  m)-  allies.     Riches  and  honor  .  asure, 

have  waited  on  my  call,  nor  does  any  earthly  b; 

fro  have  been  wanting  to  my  felicity. 
tion  1  have  diligently   numbered    the  days    of  pur 
genuine    1  which  have    fallen  to   my  lot;    they 

amount  to  fourteen.  O  man!  place  not  thy  confidence  in 
the  present 

No  less  emphatic  is  the  result  of  the  experience  oi 
omon,  as. recorded  by  itimself.     "What   hath   man  of  al] 
his  labor,  and  of  the  vexation  of  his    heart,    wherein   lie 
hath  labored  under  the  .nun  ?     For  all  s    are   sor- 

rows and  his  travail  grief;  bis  heart  taketh  not  rest  in  the 
night."     (Eccl  2 j  22,  23)     "He  that  loveth    silver 
not  be  sat:  •  loveth 


*  .10  • 

is  the  language  of  one,  who,  as  the  Scriptures  tell  us,  ''ex- 
ceeded all  the  kings  of  the  earth  for  riches  and  for  wis- 
dom." His  riches  placed  him  in  circumstances  in  which 
he  might  form  an  intelligent  judgment  as  to  the  value  of 
earthly  things ;  his  wisdom  qualified  him  to  judge  cor- 
rectly. And  the  conclusion  he  reached  has  been  em- 
bodied in  the  memorable  sentence,  "Vanity  of  vanities, 
all  if  vanity!"  * 

Our  labor,  then,  if  given  to  the  present  world,  and  if 
successful,  secures  that  which  does  not,  cannot,  satisfy  the 
soul  immortal.  But  labor  for  the^  things  of  the  life  to 
come  secures  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory. 

When  these  laborers  are  "beautified  with  salvation," 
God  shall  set  Jthem  before  His  face,  and  Christ  shall  set 
them  on  His  throne.  "They  shall  hunger  no  more,  neith- 
er thirst  any  more,  neither  shall  the  sun  light  on  them, 
nor  any  heat.  For  the  Lamb  that  is  in  the  midst  of  the 
throne  shall  feed  them,  and  shall  lead  them  .unto  living 
fountains  of  waters  :  and  God  shall  wipe,  away  all  tears 
from  their  eyes,"  (Rev.  Y;  16,  17).  No  deferred  or  dis- 
appointed hopes  are  there.  No  fears  cloud  the  spirit. 
No  shafts  of  regret  pierce  the  bosom.  No  .separations 
invade  that  hallowed  fellowship;  no  warring  passions  em- 
bitter it;  no  ster'nestrangements  chill  it.  All  is  love,  and 
purity,  and  peace.  Sin,  out  of  which  every  sorrow  flows, 
shall  be  there  unknown;  for  the  spirits  of  just  men  are 
made  perfect  there.  Heaven  shall  be  their  home;  and 
their  inheritance,  God.  Oh,  to  say  that  such  an  abode 
and  such  a  reward  are  "satisfying,"  is  language  too  tame 
and  cold  for  Christian  ears  to  endure  it !  And  we  must 
find  angelio  lips  to  speak  its  glories  forth, 

Lay  this  difference  to  heart*  You  labor  for  the  things 
0?  the  present  life  tepiie  their  unsatisfying  aaturo—de* 


11 

spite  their  inability  to  make  up  for  the  so%l  a  portion 
which  shall  content  it — despite  the  universal  testimony  of 
experience  that  as  they  increase,  cares,  and  pains,  and 
disappointments,  increase  with  them.  In  this,  you  act 
rightly.  But  how  can  you  justify  yourselves,  in  that  you 
refuse  to  labor  to  effect  an  entrance  into  the  heavenly  rest 
— that  rest  on  which  no  shadow  of  discontent  or  grief  can 
ever  fall— that  rest  which  shines  with  all  the  rays  of  an 
unalloyed  and  an  infinite  blessedness?  Are  you  willing 
to  be  workers  for  that  which  leaves  you  destitute  of  suf- 
ficing happiness,  and  not  for  that  which  guarantees  such 
happiness,  in  fuller  measure  than  human  heart  can  now 
conceive?  Disregard  not  this  thought.  God  has  deemed 
it  of  sufficient  importance  to  be  spoken  by  the  mouth  of 
His  prophet: — "Wherefore]do  you  spend  money  for  that 
which  is  not  bread  ?  and  your  labor  for  that  which  satis- 
fieth  not?  Hearken  diligentlv  unto  me,  and  eat  ye  that 
which  is  good,  and  let  your  soul  delight  itself  in  fatness." 
(Isa.  55;  2)  Oh,  if  this  question  be  of  such  worth,  that 
one  of  the  sons  of  men  was  fitly  inspired  to  urge  it,  it 
should  claim  your  instant,  earnest  meditation.  Can  you 
innocently  refuse  to  ponder  it? 

(3)  The  things  of  the  present  life,  for  which  we  labor, 
if  we  obtain  them,  an^  if  they  might  satisfy  jis,  can  be 
ours  but  for  a  little  ichile. 

Death  removes  them  out  of  our  possession.  Man,  when 
summoned  from  thisworld,  leaves  them  all  behind  him. 
"As  he  came  forth  from  his  mother's  womb,  naked  shall 
he  return  to  go  as  he  came,  and  shall  take  nothing  of  his 
labor  which  he  may  carry  away  in  his  hand.  In  all  points, 
as  he  came  so  shall  he  go  ;  and  what  profit  hath  ho  that 
hath    labored  for   the   wind?"     (Eoe)  16)    "We 

brought  nothing  into  %W%  worl^  and  it  is  cwtaia  w§  can 


L2 

carry  nothing x>ut."  (1  Tim.  G;  7)  All  are  poor  in  the 
grave.  Houses  and  lands,  gold  ami  silver,  honor,  and 
pleasure,  and  friends, — these  are  withdrawn  from  every 
one  that  "giveth  up  the  gho'sfe"  Other  eyes  than  the 
eyes  of  the  miser  will  look  upon  'his  hidden  stores  then; 
other  hands  than  his,  buy,  and  sell,  and  get  gain,  with 
them.  The  last  hour  comes;  and  in  the  twinkling  of  an 
eye,  the  millionaire  is  penniless.  The  dead  are  owners  of 
nothing  on  the  whale  lace  of  the  earth — of  nothing  ex- 
cept so  much  ground  .as  may  supply  «•  resting  place  to  their 
mouldering  forms — aiid  not  always  of that  I  Now,  this  is 
what  you  labor  for,  as  respects  the  present  life — this  in- 
stant and  total  bank  this  absolute  destitution  of 
the  grave — this  losing    all  things — this    having  nothing.. 

But  labor  for  the  things  of  the  life  to  dome  secures  :,;:n 
inheritance  incorruptible  and  undeliled,  ;.nd  that  fadeth 
not  awal/." 

"This  is  the  promise  that  God  hath  promised 

I  life,"  (1  Jn'o.  2;  25,)  -life  that  ends  not  ever. 
The  worshippers  in  the  Upper  Temple  "shall  go  no  more 
out."  (Rev.  3;  12.)  fifteen  hundred  vears  after  the 
death  of  Abel,  a  flood  of  waters  jVom  the  fountains  of  the 
great  deep  and  from  the  windows  of  heaven,  was  sweep- 
ing the  old  world  that  sinned,  into  a  righteous  destruc- 
tion. But  during  those  fifteen  hundred  years  Abel  had 
been  in  the  unbroken  enjoyment  of  the  heavenly  rest, 
arid  looked  down  upon  f the  sea  without 'a  shore"  which 
■uried  all  nations  underneath  its  waves,  and  saw- the- 
ark  which  floated  with  eight  persons  above,  the  universal 
grave.  Yet  other  two  thousand  three  hundred  years — 
»r  at  Bethlehem  a    little  child    was    lying, 


13 

iour  of  sinners.  But  Abel's  enjoyment  of  ,the  heavenly 
rest  had  been  prolonged  without  a  pause,  through  these 
two  thousand,  three  hundred  year.-,  and  he  took  up  the 
echo  of  that  song 'before  the  Throne',  and  struck  his  lyre 
of  praise  aire- h  with  gla  I  :i  hundred  and 

sixty  years  more — and  tl  a  which. we  have  fallen 

are  spreading  out  the  strange  mystery  of  their  good, 
stranger  mystery  of  then  fore  the  eye  of  IL 

But  through  their  long  la  njoyment  of  the  L 

ly  re>r  .  w,ho  can  picture  to  his 

imagination  th    ]  ven  Centuries  during  which  that 

martyr  has  walked  in  white  before  the  Father's  pres- 
ence— holy — happy — without  one  stain  of  sin,  however 
slight — vithou 

en  Centuri  th«  be*- 

ginning  of  the  beginning-  of  I  and  (he  joy  which 

have  :,  vhieh  await  y  h  yon  be  the  humb- 

lest of  all  I 

ou.dy  consider  tin  r    for    the 

things  of  the  present  Hi  if  you  obtain  them,  and 

if  you  enjoy  them,  that    death  shall    i 
their  |  b  j  not  dre    »  even  in  th  »t   mo- 

ment, that  iliev  can  be  ;  d   it; 

sure  that  an  inevitable  hour,  an  hour  at  hand    to 

come.  rike  them  every  one  fn  p.     In 

this,  you  are  without  blame.     B  i\  li  what  plea  will 

X.CUS9,  even  to  yo;:  tlure    to    hrbo 

you  may  effect  an  entrance  into  the  heavenly    rest;    may 

.!..'  '-rich  unto  God  •  in  the  unJ  iceter- 

natinherii  fcre  you  ^  ■    be   workers    where 

the  fruit  of  your  tjili  mast,  by  and  bye*    pass    froui 
forever,  and  not  where  it  shall  be  for  over 
enhancing 


14 

He  whoso  blood  was  shocLin  yotfr  behalf  accounted  it  not 
unmeet  for  utterance  by  Himself.  "Labor  not  for  the 
meat  which  perisheth,  but  for  that  meat  which  endureth 
unto  everlasting  life,  which  the  Son  of  Man  will  give  unto 
you :  for  Him  hath  God  the  Father  sealed."  (Jno.  (5; 
27)  Oh,  shall  He  speak,  and  not  gain  your  ear,  and  not 
subdue  your  heart? 

Ill  Hope  not  that  by  refusing  to  labor  to  effect  an  en- 
trance into  the  heavenly  rest,  you  shall  escape  all  labor. 
A  far  sorer  travail  of  soul  awaits  you,  in  working  out  your 
ruin.  Christ,  in  the  days  of  his  flesh,  cried,  "Come  unto 
me  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give 
you  rest."  From  these  words  we  gather — first,  that  sin- 
ners are  laboring  under  their  sins,  which,  as  a  burden 
grievous  to  be  borne,  are  bound  upon  their  souls — and 
secondly,  that  in  comparison  with  this  laboring  under  sins, 
the  Christian's  labor  to  be  delivered  from  them  is  itself 
a  rest.  Oh,  turn  then  on  this  truth  a  serious  eye  :  Ye 
who  will  not  labor  to  enter  into  the  heavenly  ?'cst,  labor,  and 
shall  labor,  under  your  sins. 

(1.)  You  labor  under  their  power.  They  rule  you. 
You  serve  them.  Their  evil.pleasure  will  they  constrain 
you  to  do.  All  the  iniquitous  deeds '  which  blacken  the 
annals  of  the  world,  are  proofs  of  the  power  of  sins. 
What  may  they  not  bring  you  to  perform?  Much  from 
which  vou  once  recoiled,  they  make  vou  do  now;  much 
from  which  you  recoil  now,  they  will  make  you  do  here-  . 
after.  There  are  no  such  hard  task-masters  under  the 
sun  as  they ! 

(2)  You  labor  under  their  guilt.  They  condemn  you. 
They  waken  all  the  thunders  of  Sinai  against  you.  They 
point  the  sword  of  Infinite  Justice  at  your  bosom.  All 
the  displays  of  God's  wrath,  which  light  up  warning  fires, 


15 

as  it  were,  along  the  path  of  man's  history,  are  proofs  of 
the  guilt  of  sins.  They  drowned  the  old  world  under  the 
flpod.  They  rained  down  devouring  flame  on  Sodom  and 
Gomorrah.  What  may  they  not  cause  you  to  endure  on 
earth  ?     "What  must  they  not  compel  you  to  suffer  in  hell? 

(3.)  You  labor  under  their  shame.  They  dishonor  you. 
When  God  is  the  Father — how  great  the  reproach  of 
being  a  disobedient  child  ?  When  Christ  is  the  King- 
how  great  the  reproach  of  being  a  rebel  against  the  throne? 
All  the  infamy  which  crimsons  the  pages  of  the  paet>  is 
proof  of  the  shame  of  sins.  What  deep  disgrace  may 
they  not  fix  on  your  name  yet  ? 

(4.)  You  labor  under  their  disappointment.  They  de- 
ceive and  betray  you.  They  make  promises  which  they 
cannot  keep.  They  inspire  hopes  which  they  cannot  ful- 
fil. Thorns  are  under*  their  flowers  ;  their  apples  turn  to 
ashes  on  the  lips:  you  lean  upon  their  reea,  it  breaks, 
and  pierces  your  side.  All  the  sighs  which  havo  ever 
burst  from  human  bosoms,  all  the  tears  which  have  ever 
fallen  from  human  eyes,  all  the  regrets,  disquietudes  and 
fears  which  have  ever  shed  gall  and  bitterness  on  human 
hearts,  are  proofs  of  the  disappointment  of  sins.  Oh,  is 
there  a  sorrow  into  whose  turbid  stream  they  may  not 
plunge  you ! 

Such  is  your  labor,  under  the  power,  the  guilt,  the 
shame,  the  disappointment  of  sins.  And  you  have  no 
helpers  like  those  who  stand  by  the  feeblest  subject  and 
servant  of  Christ.  Conscience  is  against  you,  in  labor- 
ing under  your  sins — conscience,  which  would  be  on  your 
side  in  laboring  to  enter  the  heavenly  rest.  And  he 
whose  conscience  is  against  him  cannot  be  strong  !  God 
is  against  you  in  laboring  under  your  sins — God,  who 
would  be  on  your  side  in  laboring  to  enter    the   heavenly 


.  Ki 

And  lie  who  has  God  against  him  must  fee  weak — 
unutterably  weak  !• 

Consider  now,  these  different  kinds  of  labor — this  wurk 
of  Satan  on  the  one  hand — this  work  of  God  on  the  other. 
The  one  or  the  other  must  be  done.  We  must  enter  heav- 
ven  laboring,  or  laboring  enter  hell.  Make  your  choice 
between  them.-  Which  master  will  you  serve — God  or 
Which  wages  will  you  have1 — eternal  life  or 
eternal  death?  Oh,  determine  wisely.  Determine  now: 
"to-morrow's    sun    may    shine  upon   your  grave." 

Decide  now  whether  you  will  perform  the  "labor"  neces- 
sary to  effect  an  entrance'  into  the  heavenly  rest.  Every 
promise  of  Holy  Scripture  asks  that  question,  i 
drop  of  the  blood  of  Christ  asks.it.  Every  monition  of 
the  Spirit  of  grace  asks  it.  Everyday  of  the  forbearance 
of  God  asks  it.  How  will  you  answer?  If  you  are  moved 
to  answer  aright,  there  are  three  things  that  you  will  do. 

(1)  YoU  will  begirt  your  labor  at  once.  You  will  dread 
delay  as  the  very  gate  of  perdition,  "Choose  you  this  day 
whom  you  will  serve. ,;  £Jdsh.;24j  15.)  Immedktte  labor 
alone  is  wise.  * 

(2)  You  will  suffer  no  obstruction  to  interrupt  your  labor* 
A  half-hearted  performance  will  strike  you  as  real  neglect. 
You  will  see  self-murder  in  it.  "I  am  doing  a  great  work, 
so  that  I  cannot  come  down:  why  should  the  work  cease 
while  I  leave  it  and  come  down  to  you?"  (Neb.  G;  3.) 
Diligent  labor  alone  can  accomplish  anything. 

(>])  You  iv ill  cease  from  yov.r  labor  only  with'  the  ceas- 
ing of  life.  To  abandon  it  before  death,  will  seem  to  you 
irse  than  death  itself.  "We  are  made  partakers  of 
Christ,  if  we  hold  the  beginning  of  our  confidence  stead- 
fast unto  the  end."  (IXeb.  3;  14.)  Persevering  labor 
alone  jayaita  hand  on  the  crown  of  glory. 


Hollinger  Corp, 
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